Expansion valve for refrigerating systems



Aug" 112 119241... LMAM c. E. ANDERSON EXFANSiONVALVE FOR REFRIGERATING SYSTEMS I File May 19. 1920 Patented Aug. 12, 1924.

CARL E. ANDERSON, OF HAYWOOD, ILLINOIS.

EXPANSION VALVE FOR REFRIGERATING SYSTEMS.

Application filed May 19, 1920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL E. ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Maywood, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Expansion Valves for Refrigerating Systems, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing,'and to the figures of reference marked thereon.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in expansion valves, and more particularly to an exp'ansionvalve adapted to be used in connection with refrigerating systems.

An object of the invention is to provide an expansion valve for the above purpose, wherein the valve is controlled from the vacuum side of the system rather than from the pressure side thereby making it possible to maintain a constant degree of vacuum regardless of variations in the pressure.

A further object of the invention is to provide an expansion valve of the above type wherein the operating mechanism for the valve is housed and protected from contact with the cooling liquids, and wherein also the expansible element controlling the valve is likewisehoused and protected from the cooling liquids. f

These and other objects will inpart be obvious and will in part be hereinafter-more fully described.

In the drawings which show by way of illustration Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the expansion valve embodying my improvements; and

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

The valve consists broadly of a casing having a passageway'therethrough for the cooling liquid, and this passageway 1s regulated by a valve controlled bya lever. The lever is operated by an exp'ansible element which is located in a chamber separated from the chamber receiving the cooling liquid, and only connected thereto for the purpose of permitting the operating mechanism actuated by the expansible element to operate the valve. This aifords a means whereby the expansible element and the greater portion of the operating means is kept from contact with the cooling liquid passing through the valve. The valve is so disposed in the system that this expansible element is subjected to the vacuum pressure Serial No. 382,469.

by means of a cap 6. The ball valve 4 is pressed against the seat 3 and the passageway 2 closed by means of a lever 7, which lever is pivoted at 8 and is provided with an arm 9 which extends downwardly and engaging the ball valve 4. This lever 7 is also provided with an arm 10 which is pivoted at 11 to a head on the lower end of a rod 12, which rod extends out through an opening 13 in the cap 6. Mounted on the rod 12 is a plate 14. Said plate rests against the head 11 and is clamped thereagainst by means of a nut 15 threaded on to the rod.

The projection 5 of the casing forms a chamber 16. Threaded on to the casing 1 is a pipe section 17. which has a chamber 18 formed therein. The chamber 16 in the projection 5 is connected with the chamber 18 by a relatively small opening 19 which is sufficiently large to permit the lever 7 to extend through from the'chamber 18 into I the chamber 16 and move freely on its pivot.

Located in the chamber 1.6 is an expansible metal bellows 20 which is made of a duotilemetal suitable for the purpose and preferably .of hard copper. This bellows is clamped at its upper end between the cap 6 and the projecting portion 5 of the casing. The lower end of the bellows is suitably fastened to the plate 14, preferably by sweating with solder. This makes a tight joint connection between the bellows and the plate 14. The opening 13 is of larger diameter than the rod 12 so that the chamber 16 within the bellows is open to the atmosphere, while the portion of the chamber outside of or below the bellows is closed by the bellows through its connection with the plate 14 and its connection with the casing and cap 6.

If a vacuum be created in the chamber 18, it will act on the metal bellows 20 as the opening through which the lever 7 passes is larger than the lever. As soon as a vacuum is created in the chamber 18, then the atmospheric pressure distends the bellows rocking the lever 7, thereby releasing the ball 1 from its seat 3 and allowing liquid in the passageway 2 to pass through to the'chamber 18. Surrounding the rod 12 is a spring 21. A collar 22 bears on this spring at its upper end,while the spring at its lower end is seated on the cap '6. A nut 23 threaded on to the rod 12 serves as a means for varying the tension of the spring 21. 'This spring normally tends to contract the bellows and prevent its distension. By varying the tension of the spring the opening of the valve may be varied to any desired degree of vacuum in the chamber 18.

From the above it will be apparent that I have provided a construction wherein the valve is opened and closed by a control on the vacuum side of the system, and therefore the pressure on the liquid or gas in the passageway 2 may vary within certain limits without in any way afie'cting the control of the valve. H Then again, it will be obvious that I have provided an operating mechanism for a valve which is practically free from contact with the cooling liquid pass ing through the passageway 2 and into the chamber 18. Where the cooling liquid comes in contact with the operating mechanism of the valve, there is more or less gumming, which interteres with the el'liciency' of the ging from thespirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what :I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1S

' 1; An expansion valve for refrigerating systems comprising a casing having a receiving chamber therein adapted to be attached to thevacunm side of the systen1,said casing having a passage leading to the 01121111 ber and adapted to be connected to the pres sure side of the system, whereby cooling fluid is delivered to said receiving chamber, a

ball valve for controlling said passage, a second chamber separated from and connected to said receiving chamber, an expanslble element .located in said second chamber and subject to the pressure in said vacuum chamber, and an elbow lever connected to said expansible element for controlling the valve. 2. An expansionvalve for refrigerating systems comprising a casing having a receiving chamber'therein adapted to be attached to the vacuum side of the system, said casing having a passage leading to the chamber and adapted to be connected to the pressure side of the system, whereby cooling fluid is delivered to said receiving chamber, a ball valve for controlling said passage, a second chamber separated from and connected to said receiving chamber, an expansible element located in said second chamber and subjectto the pressure in said vacuum chamber, an elbow lever extending from said second chamber into the receiving chamber for actuating the ball valve, said lever being connected to said expansible element.

3. An expansion valve for refrigerating systems comprising a casing having a chamber adapted to be connected with the vacuum side of the system, said casing having a passage extending therethrough adapted to be connected with the pressure side 01 the system, a valve seat at the inner end of said passage, a ball valve for engaging said seat to close the passage, said casing having an independent chamber, and a passage connecting said independent chamber with the vacuum chamber, an elbow lever adapted to engage said ball to move the same against said seat, said elbow lever extending through said. passage into said independent chamber, a rod-connected to said valve and extending upwardly and through the opening in the casing larger in diameter than said rod, an adjustable nut on the upper end of said rod, a spring bearing against the casing and said nut for moving the rod to seat the ball valve, :1 metal bellows connected at its upper end to the casing and at its lower end to a plate carried by said rod, said bellows forming an airtight connection between the casing and the rod whereby the difference in degree of pressure between the vacuum chamber and the atmosphere will cause said rod to be moved to permit the valve to unseat. t In testimony whereof, I afiix my signaure.

CARL E. ANDERSON. 

